Bemidji wrestling team's resurgent season concludes at state tournament

The highly successful season for the Bemidji wrestling team ended Thursday as the Lumberjacks dropped both of their matches at the Class 3A state tournament at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul.

BHS fell 59-10 to Prior Lake in the quarterfinals and the season came to a close in the consolation semifinals when the Jacks lost 61-12 to White Bear Lake.

Despite the state tournament setbacks the Lumberjacks experienced an unexpectedly productive season as they finished the winter 21-11 and stunned their Section 8-3A peers by claiming the section title.

"No one is happy (with losing two matches) but in reality, on paper, this is how it was supposed to shake out," said Bemidji coach Rance Bahr. "It was a great year. Last season we were 6-18 and to turn our year around like this is something special.

"Right now White Bear Lake and Prior Lake are at a level above us but that's okay. Our kids deserved to be here and this has been a learning experience that will help us in the future," Bahr added.

In Thursday's quarterfinals Bemidji trailed from the outset and never challenged Prior Lake.

Seeded fourth in the tournament the Lakers forged a 12-0 lead after two matches and, following Logan Crosby's 6-0 decision victory at 119 pounds, Prior Lake responded with three more consecutive wins to open a 30-3 advantage.

Colton Doty broke that string when he drew the Jacks within 30-7 with a 12-4 decision at 140. Bemidji's only other victory came at 189 where Brenden Fredriksen posted a 10-7 decision win.

"We were a little flat against Prior Lake," Bahr said. "It seems that all year long, even in tournaments, we began a little flat."

The consolation semifinal against White Bear Lake followed a similar path as the Bears won the first two matches with pins and dominated the heavier weights.

BHS posted three victories against WBL. Logan Crosby earned a 6-5 decision at 119, Jake Crosby posted a 12-5 victory at 125 and Doty collected a second-period pin at 140.

Doty and Jake Crosby will return to the mat today as they will wrestle in the individual tournament.

Doty will open against Colten LaChance of Hastings while Crosbywill face Tyler Tischer of Cambridge-Isanti.